As tax season ramps up, Georgia company targeted for alleged fraud

A tax company based in DeKalb County may be shut down during tax filing season following allegations of fraud and illegal fee collection.

The attorney general of Illinois has filed a lawsuit against Nu Republic, asking for a temporary restraining order to immediately stop its operations.

Nu Republic is headquarted in Tucker, according to its website and registrations on the Georgia secretary of state’s website.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul claimed Nu Republic accumulated more than $1 million in unlawful fees from customers. Its locations include several on the south side of Chicago, Raoul said in a statement last week.

Nu Republic did not respond to requests for comment. The company’s website does not include a list of its locations, its officers, or tax filing information.

“I am asking the court to immediately shut down Nu Republic so that no other consumers are charged these illegal fees to file tax returns,” Raoul said in the statement. “People should be wary of tax preparers who offer ‘free’ incentives and promise big refunds, because these offers can ultimately lead to expensive, and in some cases, prohibited fees.”